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Tag: mobile game

Wemade generated $53.3 million in revenue during the 1st quarter of 2013. It is 71% up from the previous quarter and the highest record for the revenue for a quarter for Wemade. The main contributor is Windrunner, Android based mobile game.

61.5% of the revenue is from Mobile games. Windrunner recorded 10 million download in very short time and was ranked #2 for the revenue in Global Google Play chart. Windrunner for LINE recorded 7million download as well. Touchfighter and Everytown have been popular, too.

Wemade plans to release 10 more mobile games during 2nd quarter and 30~40 until the end of the year.

Hangame announced the financial report for 1st quarter of 2013. The revenue is $142 million, which is up 5% compared to the previous quarter. But it is 4.7% low compared to the same period of last year.

Web board game has gone down a bit, but Mobile and PC game has grown quick. Especially, mobile game revenue grew up 738% compared to the same period of the last year. Mobile game revenue is $12.4 million. The revenue of LINE, a mobile messenger, is $62.1 million that is more than a half of the total game revenue. 80% of the revenue is from Japan. NHN is publishing 24 mobile games through LINE in Japan. Total number of registered LINE users has been reached 150 million.

PC division has grown 32% compared to the same period of the last year because TERA and KRITIKA have been performed well.

XL Games released Archivil for iOS on 27th of March, Android version will be available as well. Archivil is a hybrid mobile game that is connected with MMORPG Archiage.
The game is basically about managing the village with the character called ‘Minion’. A player could create various items while planting and raging cattle. These items could be sent to Archiage through the mail system. Items are varied from rare pats to portions. Now the game is connected to Archiage test server.
Even though a friend of Archiage users is not playing Archiage, he could send items to a friend who is playing Archiage as a gift. The game is focused on a single play mode now, but social features will be added in the future. iOS version is now available.

Sony computer Entertainment has decided not to sue CHACHACHA for KAKAO. SCE sent the certification of contents mail to CJ E&M and asked stop publishing the game because it infringed the one of mini games in Everybody’s SUKKIRI, PSP title that was released in 2010.
SCE told “After the copyright infringement was happened, the developer has changed contents to avoid the problems. In addition, if this issue is getting bigger, it might make the domestic mobile game development environment shrinking. So we decided not to sue the developer unless they make additional problems.” However, SCE added it does not mean SCE is compromised with CJ E&M.

Mar. 08KoreaComments Off on KAKAO asks developers to launch iOS, Android version at the same time

KAKAO Game has changed their policy. All mobile games published through KAKAO platform are needed to launch both iOS and Android version at the same time. It was recommendation, but it is obligation now.

The decision is positive for iOS users, but gives another burden to developers. In fact, some mobile game developers who are preparing to launch games on KAKAO are re-arranging the launching schedule because of the policy changing.

Good for users

Andorid has dominated Korean smartphone OS market with 80% penetration rate. Therefore, most mobile games on KAKAO have been launched to Android OS first. iOS version used to be introduced 2 to 6 months later.

Hit KAKAO games such as ANIPANG, DRAGON FLIGHT were no exception. However, iOS users could enjoy KAKAO games with Android OS users at the same time from now on. The main reason KAKAO changed its policy is that it is critical to enjoy KAKAO games with friends no matter what platform they are using because KAKAO games heavily rely on competitions and cooperation with friends while playing.

Part of Global Strategy

Launching games for both OS is important for KAKAO to pioneer into Global market as well. Because iOS market is bigger in the international market and revenue is higher on iOS than Android OS.

KAKAO is trying hard to penetrate Japan, SEA, SA mobile market with its main weapon – games. LINE from NHN is preoccupying Japan, Taiwan and other SEA countries now.

Another burden for developers

It might be no matter to developers who are preparing their games to launch both platforms. However, many developers are changing their launching schedule now. If a developer has not chosen an engine that supports cross-platform playing, it is like making 2 different games. In addition, managing updates for both versions are not easy tasks for small-mid size mobile game developing companies.

Some developers complained that KAKAO announced policy changing too suddenly. Even though new policy will be applied from the 12th of March, they let developers know on January.

Wemade launched ‘EveryTown for KAKAO for iOS, Android at the same time on the 5th of March.